Scott Collins ’05 returns to USN
Scott is excited to be USN’s new Assistant Director of Admissions.
“I owe so much to USN. It feels great show off the school and help other students come here and take advantage of what it has to offer.”
What does USN have to offer? “Learning how to absorb and apply lessons rather than just memorizing them” was a major benefit for Scott. As were learning time management, study habits, and how to manage commitments to extracurricular activities and academics. All were essential elements of his experience here that helped him succeed in college.
Scott liked USN from the moment he came to visit. He and his parents had started looking at schools when rezoning meant that he would change schools after his freshman year at Brentwood High. “USN was the only private school I applied to….I loved the atmosphere. It felt like a college campus.” He also enjoyed the cultural diversity and the overt friendliness of the students.
His tenth grade retreat to Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina remains one of his favorite memories of his time here. Even though he was the new kid, other students welcomed him and he felt right at home.
Scott relishes the friendships he made playing soccer. Prior to coming to USN, Scott had been on the tennis team—he went on to get a tennis scholarship at Wofford College—but because of state athletic rules, he was required to sit out a year when he came to USN. He took up soccer and, after years in a solo sport, found playing on a team gave him the opportunity to form friendships outside of his own grade.
It didn't hurt his liking for soccer that they went to State that year and made it to the finals.
His favorite subject at USN was Spanish—first with Rhonda Prater and later with Lourdes Cuellar during his senior year. Only a conflict between the requirement to spend time abroad and his obligations to Wofford’s tennis team prevented him from majoring in Spanish in college. Even so, it wasn’t Spanish class that became his favorite memory of academics at USN.
That honor belongs to Marc Lavine’s Western Civ. class and his first-ever essay-only test. It was “very tough….I knew then I would be pushed and challenged.” He admires Marc Lavine and is still grateful that she “really wanted students to do the very best the could.”
Now that he is back here on USN’s staff, his perspective is changing. “The [students’] level of conversation about coursework….they seem so young, but in some ways it is like they are already in college.” He is sure they have grown smarter. “They certainly seem smarter than I remember feeling.” He does not, however, like their calling him "Mr. Collins." “It makes me feel old.” He admits that it will be a while before he will feel comfortable saying “Marc” instead of “Dr. Lavine.”
He expects he will grow used to having former teachers as colleagues. “After all, it’s just my third day.”
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Summer 2025 reading lists available for grades 5-12
The English Department and Hassenfeld librarians share summer reading lists for rising grades 5-12 and AP courses. View their suggestions at usn.org/reading. Lower School reading lists will be published before the last day of school.Read More -
Science Olympiad team competes at state competition
15 members of the USN Science Olympiad Team traveled to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville for the state competition and returned to USN with several medals for their stellar performance.Read More -
MS students shine at Austin Peay math competition
A team of USN Middle Schoolers excelled at the second annual Austin Peay State University math competition.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.